Self-oiling wheel



UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIcE. I

NATHANIEL D. I'IELMIOK, OF PALATINE, VEST VIRGINIA.

SELF-OILING WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 407,777, dated. July 30, 1889.

I Application filed April 8, 1889. Serial No. 306,489. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL D. HEL- MICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Palatine, in the county of Marion, State of lVest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self Oiling WVheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to that class of car-wheels and fast and loose pulleys, &c., provided with an oil reservoir or cup around the hub, and among the objects thereof is the provision of an outwardly and exteriorly cast or wrought iron tube or vent having a flared end, which vent maybe cast integral therewith or separately and adapted for insertion into perforations in the oil cup or reservoir. When such a vent is provided, the flared portion, when inserted within the cup, prevents the exit of the oil, thus effecting a saving in the expense thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outwardly and exteriorly flare-shaped vent which is very simple and capable of manufacture at a minimum cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description,

and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line as x of Fig. 2 of a wheel and its reservoir provided with a vent constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a wheel of the ordinary construction, and Fig. 3 is a detail of the cup in vertical section provided with the vent cast integral with the oil cup or reservoir.

Like letters refer to like parts in all figures of the drawings.

A represents a wheel provided with spokes, being of the usual construction. Cast integral with the wheel A is the oil reservoir or cup A, having the hub or bearing-block A which is cast therewith.

B is the axle, which turns in the hub A The hub A is provided with vents or openings, through which the oil is adapted to flow to lubricate the axle. The axle B is secured in place by the linchpin l3, provided with the usual head; or any other fastening may be used.

G are perforations or openings formed in the oil cup or reservoir A. Inserted into the perforations C are the vents C, which are outwardly and exteriorly flared on their ends.

The vent 0 may be inserted or (when integral) formed in the core of the oil-box in the process of molding the wheel; or, as is a common practice in the mechanic arts, the supported end of the vent may be seated in a collar slightly larger than the free flared end of the vent and said collar fitted to a suitable opening in the oil-cup; but this detail is an immaterial feature, as I prefer to cast the vent integral'with the oil-cup. The outward and exterior flare of the vent is the important feature, in that the oil is thereby prevented from flowing out through the vent, while it is readily supplied to the cup from the outside into and through the vent.

Theoperation of my invention in economizing the oil is as follows: As soon as the wheel begins to turn and as its velocity increases the oil is carried up by friction and centrifugal force and over the hub; thence a sufficient quantity flows down the plane faces of the box and falls upon the inner surface of the hub and through the apertures to the axle to lubricate the same. WVhere this form of lubricator has been hitherto used and ordinary round non outwardly and exteriorly flared vents were employed, the falling oil made its exit therethrough in considerable quantities. The inner ends of my vents, being flared outwardly and exteriorly and sloping inward, cause the retention of the oil in the box, instead of allowing its exit, thus preventing a considerable waste of oil.

\Vhat I claim is 1. An oil-reservoirprovided with inwardlydisposed and outwardly and exteriorly flared tubes, substantially as specified.

2. An oil-reservoi r provided with inwardlydisposed and outwardly and exteriorly flared In testimony whereof Iaffix my signaturein 1o tubes formed integral therewith, substa'npresence of two witnesses.

tiaily as specified.

3. The wheel A, having reservoir A, and NATHANIEL D. HELMICK.

5 hub A provided with oil-receiving openings,

in combination with inwardly-disposed and- Witnesses:

outwardly and exteriorly flared tubes 0, in- Z. M. AYERS,

serted in 'the reservoir A, substantially as WM. W. SCOTT.

specified. 

